Australian Rainbowfish

Melanotaeniidae as a family gets its shimmer from reflective guanine platelets in the scales rather than pigment alone, and that color genuinely deepens and intensifies as the fish matures and settles into a tank, a juvenile rarely shows the full potential it'll reach as an adult. Australian species in particular tend to run hardier than their New Guinea relatives, adapted to a wider range of natural water conditions across the continent. A great centerpiece school for a larger community tank that has room to let a group grow into full color together.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful, shoaling · Max size: ~4" · Min tank: 30 gal · Diet: Omnivore, flake/pellet